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CHILDREN in May 2009

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THE
MUSIC

Reagan’s
Children: An Opera-Oratorio, a music theatre peice
in the tradition of Orff, Stravinsky, and Britten's parables, sets
to music the eulogies presented at Ronald Reaganís June 10, 2004
interment ceremony by his three living children, along with sections
of the requiem text, patriotic standards, and Tennyson's poem "Crossing
the Bar".

Reagan’s Children: An Opera-Oratorio
is scored for an ensemble of four soloists, one treble, 16-voice
male choir, three pianos, and string quartet.

Stating
that “words are as important as music, and emotional honesty
is more important that either,” composer Eric Reda works to
lyrically and faithfully sets vocal lines in order to create a musical
drama in which characters come into distinct focus. His engaging
musical style, while solidly in the world of contemporary musical
techniques, is informed by classic opera and oratorio, folk music,
protestant hymns, American popular song, electronica, and musical-theatre.

Additional
samples of the music can be heard below as computerized MIDI files.
(musical instrument digital interface)
[files will open in a new window or right click
to download.]

I.
TOCATTA - midi
preview - MP3
[800K] In this clip, Ronald Prescott Reagan sings "My dad was
known for being this famously optimistic man. But such optimism
can lead one to see the world as one wishes, rather than how it
really is."

II.
ARIA - midi
preview - MP3
[1M] Patti Davis and Chorus sing: "He will never get sleepy,
and will never be sad. He will never go hungry, and will never get
scared. He is swimming in the clear blue waters of Heaven as far
and as wide as he wants, and he never has to stop because the river
goes on for ever and ever."

III
- MEDITATION - midi
preview - MP3
[1.3M] Michael Reagan (represented by a cello) sings: "Years
later, when I met Colleen, the woman I knew I was to marry, my Father
wrote a letter to me about marriage and family, as well as this
mandate." The chorus adds: "Always stay faithful to the
woman you love. Always stay faithful to the woman you love."

The NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY production of REAGAN'S
CHLIDREN: An Opera-Oratorio is partially supported by a grant from the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in the Arts Committee at Northwestern University.

REAGAN'S
CHLIDREN: An Opera-Oratorio
is partially supported by a Community Arts Assistance Program grant
from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois
Arts Council, a state agency.